Official Name: C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park

Mailing and Shipping Address: 8207 Hwy 37 W, Camilla GA 31730
Phones: (229) 522-3623; Mobile: (229) 416-5344

Superintendent: Currently Vacant; See position announcement

Farm Area: 130 acres = 100 acres cleared + 30 acres in pine, pecan, and native live oaks.

Mapped Soil Series: Lucy loamy sand ~95acres (Loamy, siliceous, thermic Arenic Paleudults), Orangeburg loamy sand ~5acres (Fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Paleudults); Source - Mitchell County SCS Map.

Physiography: Southeast Coastal Plain Physiographic Region; Hydrologically it is located in the Lower Flint sub-basin of the Flint River Basin; This area is part of the broad, level Dougherty Plain, an area USGS has designated as Subarea 4 in their recent studies. In the karst topography of the Dougherty Plain, the Floridan aquifer is recharged through porous overburden, sinkholes and other geologic features while the Flint River is incised into the top of the aquifer. Within three miles of the site, large springs, known locally as "blue holes" drain groundwater into the river.

Water Supply: Three 8-in. diameter Floridan aquifer wells were drilled in the planted pine areas of the farm. Each was 200 feet deep, cased to 140 ft, with submersible pumps placed at 105 ft. The static water levels stay at about 40 ft below the surface year-round. Two of the pumps are interconnected, and staged to start sequentially to supply up to 900 gpm. Individually each of the wells can supply about 450 gpm.

Water Quality: As is typical of the excellent quality of the aquifer in this area, the water has low salinity and moderately hardness making it ideal for irrigation. Lab tests showed pH 7.8; Conductivity 0.205 umhos; alkalinity 107ppm (moderately hard); Ca 45.7, Mg 0.82, Na 2.1, Fe 0.23 ppm; NO3-N 3.5, Cl 2.5, and SO4 1.5ppm; no detectible phosphates, trace metals, or pesticides.

Distribution: Throughout the farm, water is available continuously pressurized with variable flow rates provided by Cycle-Stop valves and small pressure tanks an each well. Valves supply 25 to 400 gpm on the South Well and about 50 to 900 gpm on the East/West wells. Buried 6 and 4 in PVC mains and 480 V, 3-phase and 220/110 V, single phase electric power reach each pivot and riser.

Pivots:

One Valmont Valley, Reinke, Lindsey Zimmatic, and TL two-span center pivot. Each pivot is approximately 265 ft in boom length and covers 5.0 ac).

Control panels: manufacturers state-of-the-art (communication & control capable)

SIRP control and monitoring: 6 in. gate valve, 6 in. Bermad solenoid controlled valve, Micrometer flowmeter, Omega pressure sensor. Each is also equipped with a combination check valve, chemigation port, and vacuum breaker.

Sprinker packages: a treatment variable two packages per pivot - Nelson and Seninger designed sprinklers, nozzles and packages including pressure regulation for each nozzle. End guns, also a treatment variable is equipped on each.

One Valley four span center pivot retrofitted with Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) controls. The pivot is approximately 600 ft in boom length and covers a 12.5 ac half-circle area. Controls and monitoring as 2-tower pivots.

Sprinkler Packages: Nelson designed Rotator sprinklers on drops with pressure regulator for each nozzle plus end guns.

Linears:

Valley (West or Newton field) 11-acre, 3-span (160, 180, 115 ft) linear supplied by 4 in. diameter hard-hose fitted with flexible end hose extensions.

Valley (East or Camilla field) 9-acre, 3-span (160, 180, 160 ft) linear supplied by 4 in. diameter hard-hose.

Valley (Lang North field, Tifton) 9-acre, 4-span (120 ft each) linear supplied by 4 in. diameter hard-hose plus soft end extensions.

All linears are equipped with intermediate-level control panels, flow meters, and pressure gauges; diesel motors on the carts generate 8 to 12 Kwatt.

Sprinkler package: Custom designed sprinkler package (Senninger Low Drift Nozzles on drops and Nelson half circle low drift nozzles on drops) with pressure regulation and individual solenoid valve controls for each sprinkler provide 30 ft-wide (five 6-foot beds) irrigation treatment strips. At the Lang farm, a second sprinkler package (LEPA discharging as bubblers) provides a treatment alternative for each strip.

Subsurface drip (SDI) and Drip (including drip under plastic):

Lang SDI (operational): two areas (alternating crops) each containing a RCB design with three-bed (18 ft wide by 40 ft long) plots. Variables are tubing depth - 8, 12, and 16 in. and application rate. Strip tillage (inrow subsoil) is used throughout.

SIRP Old Oak field SDI (450 X 450 ft, about 4.6 acre total): from one main riser two to four areas, each planned with up to 48 plots for treatment and replicate combinations.

SIRP Pine field SDI or Drip (400 X 350 ft, about 3.2 acre): One main riser, one to four areas, with up to 48 plots on all for treatment and replicate combinations.

SIRP North and South Drip field (550 X 530 ft, about 6.7 acre): Two main risers, each with a filtered water, supply buried submails and laterals. At each riser, four plot laterals may be connected, providing up to 128 independently irrigated treatments.

SIRP East field Drip (300 X 520 ft, about 3.6 acre): One main risers, one to two areas, each possible with up to 48 plots for treatment and replicate combinations.

Pecan Grove:About ten mature trees make up this grove. Two smaller areas 80 ft by 300 ft are also available for planting new trees, vines or other plant material. The area is served by one riser. This area is primarily a demonstration area.

Building and facilities:

The headquarters building contains a 30 X 40 ft classroom/meeting room with a 8 X 18 ft kitchen and 8 X 12 ft storage room. The meeting room is available for public meetings. A 15 ft X 25 ft workarea/computer and controls room and 15 X 15 ft office make up the inside workspaces. Additionally there is a 25 X 60 ft workshop, 30 ft X 35 ft storage (attic), and 60 X 60 covered equipment/outdoor display area.

A Pesticide Storage, Washout and Containment Building was built to provide state-of-the-art safety and protection against pesticide contamination. The facility is available for training and instruction in pesticide safety issues.

Monitoring and Control:

All areas of irrigation were incorporated into centralized computer-based control and monitoring system designed by Environmental Sensors Incorporated (ESI) using Netafilm components. Additionally, timing of pivot power and pressurization have been monitored by Pivotrac, Inc. units using pagers and an automated logging. A Campbell weather station complete with evaporation pan and soil moisture sensing at six depths was installed in the east field. It is part of the Georgia AEMN.


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